Johns to play cricket for NSW

Rugby league great Andrew Johns will play cricket for New South Wales in at least two Twenty20 matches next season. Cricket New South Wales has announced Johns will play against South Australia at Newcastle's No.1 Sports Ground on January 7 and at Telstra Stadium in Sydney on January 10.

Regarded as the world's best rugby league player, JOHNS has also played some lower grade cricket in recent years with Newcastle's Merewether club. The Newcastle captain's selection was approved at a recent NSW Cricket Board meeting with the full support of senior players and coach Trevor Bayliss.

Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert admits the scheme is a bid to attract publicity for Twenty20 cricket.